Golding hopes to be surprise act

Debutante Chloe Golding is hoping to surprise the Commonwealth Games field – as she says no-one will know who she is!

Golding won the 200m backstroke title at the Swim England National Winter Championships in December in a personal best time of 2:09.93.

As well as a two-second PB, her time was enough to see her selected for the Gold Coast squad when the team was finalised in January.

Chloe Golding
  • DOB: 10/08/1998
  • Club: City of Manchester
  • Coach: Mark Rose
  • CWG: Making debut at Gold Coast 2018

The City of Manchester swimmer said: “Because it’s my first Games, no-one really knows who I am so I think I’m in the best position possible.

“I’m trying to stay calm. I’m not feeling too nervous about it so I’m excited rather than nervous which is good.

“When I told my parents, my mum cried.  I was like ‘chill out, it’s fine’. I think a lot of my friends were shocked and a bit more excited than I am.

“One of my training partners was buzzing about it and did not stop going on for about a week. Everyone is excited.”

Golding hopes to keep improving

Golding is no stranger to competing in an outdoor pool and says she won’t try to change too much ahead of the Games, which begin on 4 April.

“I think I’m going to continue to work hard and not change too much in the pool or on land as it’s worked before,” she said. “Hopefully I’ll keep on improving. I’ve changed a bit of my nutrition but that’s it really.

“Swimming in an outdoor pool is quite exciting. I have swim in outdoor pools before but because there are lots of spectators for this one, it will be really big.

“It is a bit annoying because the sun, especially in Australia, can get in your eyes but I have had practice before so I think I’ll be fine. We’re training outside before so hopefully that last minute detail will make it okay.

“It will be a bit of an uncomfortable environment but I think if I can swim fast in an uncomfortable environment, then hopefully, when I’m back here, I will be able to swim really fast.”

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